givoly

19 hours ago, malc-c said:

When you plug the handset in to the synscan unit, with 12v powering the synscan unit, does the handset LCD illuminate and give any message such as "no response both axis" ?  - If so it the synscan unit that is more likely to have the issue.

Have a read of this long thread which covers repairs of several synscan motor board, and the same would apply to your unit.  As the Synscan unit lacks a built in USB port it will have the older 16F886's and full details on how to program replacements are contained within this thread.

I'm guessing you are not in the UK as you mentioned $$ for the cost of the replacement?

Thanks. Yes, I'm not in UK. It does not illuminate when powered. Totally dead. I know the mount controller is working (without the hand controller), since I can control it via Synscan WiFi adapter. I'll review the long thread you referred me to. Tx!

Hi. I'd appreciate any help!  I too have a repair issue with the SynScan dead hand controller. Here's what I think happened - after some visual observations and great polar alignment, I wanted move to EAA, so I wanted to control with my ASIAIR Pro via USB-B port into the hand controller, and fumbling in the dark, I probably inserted it into the RJ12 port. The outer metal shield of the USB-B plug probably shorted the connections in the RJ12 socket. The controller turned off, never to turn back on again. No smell of any burning, nothing. It shut down, and never started again. 

Bottom line, I think I shorted some of the RJ12 pins and controller shut down, permanently.

I opened up the controller - and everything looks perfectly clear and clean. Any thoughts on which component could have gotten the damage and replacing it may recover the hand controller (especially because the hand controller costs $155+tax these days, and I would prefer a few dollars of component - soldering instead...). 

Here are some pictures, that may help.

Oh, and this controller came from the SkyWatcher SynScan EQ5 Pro upgrade kit - even though it says 'Celestron' inside.